Staff writer
Due to rainy recent weeks, about half the county’s corn crop remains unplanted, but that’s probably not a problem.
Ricky Roberts, county extension agent, said he sends in a weekly estimate of how many acres are planted. The exact amount is his best guess, Roberts said.
“I don’t know how much is in the ground,” Roberts said. “I’m hoping we’re at 60 or 70 percent. There’s corn planting being done.”
Jeff Naysmith, agronomist at Cooperative Grain and Supply in Hillsboro, estimates corn planting to be about half done.
That’s a bit later than a typical year, Naysmith said.
“The lion’s share would be in by April 20,” he said.
Both Roberts and Naysmith agree that this season’s late planting is not likely to spell trouble for the crop.
“You could plant well into June and not have any issues,” Naysmith said. “The thing that’s unknown is what weather we’re going to have. From a maturity stand point, we’ve got lots and lots of time yet.”
How late would be “too late” is impossible to say, Roberts said.
“It just depends on when it’s going to rain and when it’s going to be hot and dry,” Roberts said. “There’s not any real answer.”
Naysmith said if a grower doesn’t have corn planted by the first part of June, he might think about advising a different crop, but for now, he feels confident this year’s corn crop will do OK.
“It’s been pretty cool and that stuff doesn’t grow that fast,” Naysmith said. “What’s in there so far is developing slowly.”